Skincare doesn't have to be expensive but I do think some level of care is necessary. Yes, genetics play a big role as does lifestyle (drinking, smoking, sun exposure, poor diet etc) however those with both good genes and a healthy lifestyle would have even better skin if some basic skincare is incorporated.
None of the below takes more than 10 minutes of your day to apply and many of these items can be found for a very reasonable price. For eg, basic tret/retinol is much cheaper in my country than retinol serums that are nowhere near as effective.
A lot of what I suggest is in line with @Ndd135632 's earlier advice.
- Limit sun exposure and use sunscreen when outdoors
- Retinol! The actual prescription stuff, not retinol creams. The active ingredient is called tretonoin and can be found in pharmacies branded as Retin-A. It's quite cheap where I'm from (about 15 gbp per tube which lasts months).
- Chemical exfoliants. The science shows that physical exfoliation is damaging to the skin barrier; chemical exfoliation aids cell rejuvenation without damaging the barrier once used appropriately. Examples - AHAs like lactic, mandelic or glycolic acid and BHAs like salicylic acid. These do not have to be used daily.
- Vitamin C. This is also scientifically proven to increase skin brightness but it's important to do your research. Vitamin C in its strongest form is called L-Ascorbic Acid which is highly unstable, as it breaks down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen so it's important to buy properly packaged forms.
- Niacinamide - Fantastic for evening skin tone, reducing pore size and combatting hyperpigmentation. I've seen so much improvement since using this. I highly recommend The Ordinary's 10% Niacinamide serum which is about 11 USD for 2 oz and lasts about 4 months.
- Peptides and ceramides - improves the skin barrier, tightens the skin and slows down prevention of fine lines.
- Hyaluronic acid which is proven to help skin cells retain moisture and plumps the skin.
The key is to find skincare that doesn't focus on the marketing and packaging. Understand your skin type (maybe do an online skin quiz if you're uncertain), decide on the products that your skin would benefit from and get products that focus on the main ingredient. I find The Ordinary products are a fantastic value and focus on the active ingredient without all the bells and whistles.
With the exception of sunscreen, the above products are generally known as 'actives'. They are the step in between your cleanser and moisturiser. In general, I think a basic pharmacy cleanser and moisturiser is fine as they are part of general skin hygiene but it's the actives that really do the work so I wouldn't suggest spending a lot on cleansers and moisturisers. I find the Simple Moisturising Gel cleanser to be great. Ideally, look for a non-lathering cleanser as these dry out your skin. In terms of moisturiser, I love using oils. Jojoba oil and grapeseed oil are fairly light and non-comedogenic (pore-clogging). It's especially important to moisturise if you live in a dry environment.
And yes, men do benefit from skincare also. My husband had a very oily T-zone and dry, flaky cheeks and since I've encouraged him to use some of the above, his skin is neither flaky nor oily and generally evenly moisturised. His pores look a lot better too. Forgoing skincare isn't flipping the bird to the patriarchy; it's just a good practice in taking care of your body, even if all you do is stay out of the sun, wash off your makeup and apply some oil.